Opinion: Loose Lips Sink Ships

Editor’s note: The views and opinions expressed below are those
of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of
Sherdog.com, its affiliates and sponsors or its parent company,
Evolve Media.

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The sudden dismissal of featherweight prospect Yair
Rodriguez from the
Ultimate Fighting Championship roster sent shockwaves through
the mixed martial arts community. While Rodriguez’s lopsided loss
to Frankie
Edgar did no favors to his stock among the promotion, he is
still a recognizable name with a knack for high-flying striking who
can keep more than just the average hardcore fan engaged in the
action. So when the Twitter remarks surrounding a proposed and
quickly scrapped contest with Zabit
Magomedsharipov at
UFC 227 this August were followed by the Mexican fighter being
unceremoniously booted, there were questions that needed to be
answered.

At the post-fight press conference for Sunday’s
UFC Fight Night 130 in Liverpool, UFC President Dana
White answered at least one of those questions. Confirming that
Rodriguez had turned down fight offers, White’s response was
telling. “When I call you and offer you a fight,” White said, “you
should probably take it.” He could not have been any clearer: do
what I say or face the consequences. While the public face and
part-owner of the promotion should have power over the operations
of the company and its employees, there is one fundamental problem:
Rodriguez was not an employee. In fact, none of the approximately
550 fighters currently under contract with the UFC are employees;
they are independent contractors. As an independent contractor,
Rodriguez had a right to refuse a job.

This is far from a secret. Much attention has been devoted to the
employment status of the roster as the UFC has continued to reach
for more control over its fighters. As a result, the debate has
reached peaks several times. When Fedor
Emelianenko was being sought after by the promotion, a big
sticking point was the company’s refusal to allow him to compete in
combat sambo. A true independent contractor would be able to take
jobs with other companies without any exclusivity issues. Fighters
wouldn’t need special permission from the promotion to engage in
other combat sports. When Reebok entered its partnership with the
UFC for athlete apparel, controversy ensued. The Reebok deal
effectively leveled a fighter sponsorship market that had already
been heavily damaged by the entrance fee the UFC had required
before allowing fighters to wear corporate logos in the cage.
Independent contractors are not supposed to be subject to company
uniforms, with safety equipment being the exception. Outside of MMA
gloves, a protective cup, mouth guard, and the bounds of apparel
allowed by athletic commissions, fighters should be permitted to
wear what they choose. Dictating what fighters wear for press
engagements, weigh-ins, and walkouts would be off-limits to the
company as well. The UFC’s policy has shown a rather reckless
attitude towards this boundary.

White’s words have reflected that same flippancy towards the
delicate nature of the situation. If someone were unaware of the
pending anti-trust lawsuit, White’s unapologetic and dismissive
attitude surrounding Rodriguez and his exit from the UFC might be
seen as nothing more than tough talk from a promoter. If one were
uninformed about the pending litigation regarding the recent
handling of women’s bantamweight and fighter’s union advocate
Leslie
Smith, this would simply be another occasion where the
outspoken promoter spoke plainly and without restraint. However,
even a casual glance at White’s comments through the lens of these
two ongoing legal issues reveals something much more. His words
have the potential to contribute to what could be an impending
collapse of the house of cards.

To continue to enjoy the tax benefits of classifying its athlete
roster as independent contractors, the UFC has to keep up at least
the appearance of respecting the restrictions of that status. This
would entail handling issues that border that line with more care.
That means not enacting wide-ranging policies, USADA and Reebok for
example, without the input of a reasonable portion of the roster.
It would mean increasing overall fighter pay and altering the
current bonus structure to appease the roster and quell as much
discontent as possible. It would also mean keeping White and his
infamous communication skills in check. While the actual policies
and procedures to which the company adheres are much more important
than words spoken at a press conference, the speaker is very
important. When in front of a microphone -- especially, but not
exclusively, in his capacity as UFC President and co-owner --
White’s words are the words of the company. It’s hard to imagine
that ahead of Smith’s hearing, where a court will rule on the
employee vs. contractor debate, UFC’s parent company Endeavor wants
to go on record with something that directly contradicts their
efforts to maintain their legal protections. As the anti-trust suit
carries on, it can’t be in Endeavor’s best interest to have the
figurehead of the UFC make public statements that are begging to be
used against them.

The UFC’s owners have a lot working against them in the future. In
the midst of the celebrations of the newly announced $300 million
annual deal with ESPN, there is a lot for White to blow his “brains
out for three days celebrating,” as he recently put it. However,
trouble appears to be right over the horizon. There is a noticeable
and increasingly vocal contingent of fighters who aren’t content
with the company. More fighters are jumping ship, standing their
ground, and shunning the notion of being a company man if it
doesn’t benefit their bottom line. There are also potential
game-changing legal matters that will come to a head soon. That
trouble will only be complicated by loose lips. The UFC and anyone
chosen to represent it in any official capacity should be very
careful with their words. It’s very possible that those words will
come back to haunt them.